Delhi: Big jolt to AAP as 13 councillors resign, announce new party

The development comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a win in the civic elections, reclaiming the MCD, with AAP choosing to boycott the polls

In a big setback to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in New Delhi, thirteen councillors have resigned from its primary membership. The rebel leaders are set to form a new party – the Indraprastha Vikas Party – which will be led by Mukesh Goel, who was the leader of the house for AAP in the MCD.

Reflecting on his decision, Mukesh Goel said the party was in power but was unable to fulfill its duty to the people. “About 15 councillors have resigned from the primary membership of Aam Aadmi Party and formed a new party, Indraprastha Vikas Party. Despite being in power, we could not work for the service of the people of Delhi. We could not work due to internal conflicts,” he said.

The development comes days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a win in the civic elections, reclaiming the MCD, with AAP choosing to boycott the polls.

This new blow to the party in Delhi follows its defeat at the hands of the BJP is the Assembly polls held earlier this year. Since then, the Arvind Kejriwal-led part has been grappling with ongoing internal conflicts.

Ashok Pandey, who also resigned along with the other councillors, said, “We came here to work for development of our ward. The work is not happening. We were in Aam Aadmi Party for 2.5 years, our main issue was that our colony was unauthorised. So, people were facing issues of garbage and drainage… We didn't get funds from party to work. We tried to talk to AAP’s senior leadership but there was no action.”

Another party councillor Himani Jain stated, “We have formed a new party, Indraprastha Vikas Party. We have resigned from AAP. In the last 2.5 years, no work was done in the corporation which should have been done. We were in power, yet we did nothing... We have formed a new party because our ideology is to work for the development of Delhi... We will support the party which will work for the development of Delhi.”